Characterization and acidic properties of Al-SBA-15 materials prepared by post-synthesis alumination of a low-cost ordered mesoporous silica

A series of M-containing SBA-15 type materials with different Si/Al ratio, were prepared by post-synthesis modification of a pure highly ordered mesoporous silica SBA-15 obtained by using sodium silicate as silica source, and amphiphilic block copolymer as structure-directing agent. A high level of aluminum incorporation was achieved, reaching an Si/Al ratio of up to 5.5, without any significant loss in the textural properties of SBA-15. These materials were fully characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XpS), Al-27 NMR spectroscopy, and N-2 adsorption at 77 K. The acid properties of these materials have been evaluated by NH3-TPD, adsorption of pyridine and deuterated acetonitrile coupled to FTIR spectroscopy. The effective acidity of these materials was evaluated using two catalytic reactions: 2-propanol dehydrogenation and 1-butene isomerization. The adsorption of basic probe molecules and the catalytic behavior revealed an evolution of the acid properties with the Al content. These studies have shown that the Al-SBA-15 materials contain Bronsted and Lewis acid sites with medium acidity which makes them appropriate to be used as acid catalysts in heterogeneous catalysis, catalytic supports, and adsorbents. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.